Articles in the Latest News Category

St George’s congregation is invited to a special viewing of an exhibition at New Era Theatre ‘Service Providers’ by David Hatfull, after the 9.30 service on Sunday 25th February. The photographs are of key people who provide services to our community in Wash Common. It contains many familiar faces, so do come and view the photos and fund out the stories behind them.

All are welcome to attend a service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Newbury on Sunday 11th February, 3pm at St John’s.
The service will be followed by a short act of remembrance at St John’s memorial gardens, opposite the church. Refreshments will be served afterwards.
Photograph by Allan Mercado.

John 1.43-52
Introduction: Season of Epiphany
Here we are at the beginning of a new year. The whole year lays before us, indeed the whole of the rest of our lives lay before us. There is a saying isn’t there, when contemplating change, about treating each day as the first day of the rest of my life. What do we want that to look like?
Sometimes, the decision is a difficult one. For some, life may have changed for the worse and there is a mourning for what has been lost. I acknowledge that. But for most of us there are aspects of our life we would like to change; things we would like to do, or know more …

It was a packed house on Christmas Eve for our annual and ever-popular Crib Service. Celebrating the true spirit of Christmas, the children from St George’s Sunday Club played all the traditional nativity roles including Mary, Joseph, the star and …the elf. It was a wonderful service – congratulations to everyone who took part.

We were delighted to see Jacky Barr and her family back at St George’s last Sunday. Jacky was ordained Deacon at Christ Church Cathedral in July and is currently serving her curacy in the Benefice of Chinnor, Sydenham, Aston Rowant and Crowell, Oxfordshire.
Becky presented Jacky with an ordination gift from St George’s; a cloak, which Jacky kindly modelled for the photo below.

Bishop Steven has invited all congregations in the Diocese to take part in an Advent course focused on the Beatitudes. At St George’s we intend to run 3 weekly sessions, starting on the 27th November.
Groups will run at the following times:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday evenings at 8pm
Wednesday mornings at 10.30, also Thursday mornings at St John’s
Option—Tuesday am or Sunday afternoon. Tbc
For further information or to purchase the booklet prepared by the Diocese(£2), please speak to Kathy Winrow or contact the church office. Please note that is it not essential to purchase the course booklet!

Bishop Steven says of the course: “I’m hoping churches will use this specially written resource to help them study and understand the Beatitudes. For me the Beatitudes have 8 beautiful qualities, but …

Last week St George’s marked the end of an era with a service to celebrate the completion of the Renewable Energy Project, ‘George Goes Green’.
Eight years after its launch, and a new floor, a new ceiling and a new (green) heating system later, the final works to the piazza and north door access are now complete. Fellow Wash Commoner and Mayor of Newbury, Cllr David Fenn attended the service which celebrated the renewal of the church buildings and ushered in a new chapter in the life of St George’s, as a warm and welcoming, carbon neutral community venue at the heart of Wash Common life.

St George’s is very excited to be hosting the Riding Lights Theatre Company on Saturday 21st October…
Gospel Street… retelling the news
People are out on the street.
Another generation is looking for answers – a rich young career woman, an angry gang leader, religious fanatics, activists, crooked bankers, a surprising refugee and the bloke who bought some seriously expensive jewellery.
Despite their differences and social divisions, 140 characters want to meet one extraordinary person. Jesus has arrived on their street on the lookout for trouble – looking to do something about it.
Four young evangelists – two women, two men – piece together the startling story of what happened, just now, on that street. It’s a wild ride through issues of …

If you are at home with little ones over the summer holiday period, remember that our weekly Stay and Play, service and cafe continues to run during the school holidays.
Tea, coffee, squash and biscuits are served from 9am in the LMR, with a short, child-friendly service from 9.30-10am. The service is geared towards children with musical instruments, fruit, toys and a ‘hockey-cokey’ style exchange of the peace. Children are free to play and chat during the service – please don’t worry about trying to keep them quiet!
Anyone of any age is welcome to come and join in the fun.
There is no charge and no need to book, just turn up! We will be delighted to see …

Introduction
The day set aside for Benedict is on Tuesday but it seems appropriate to bring it forward to today for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we can remind ourselves of Lent 2015 when we studied a little of the Rule of St Benedict, and secondly, the recent visit of Bishop Steven of Oxford and his vision for the Diocese has resonances of St Benedict also.
Jacob
But let us begin with Jacob.
The name Jacob conveys much about the character of this man. He was a deceiver, a grabber, a man of ambition who cared little for any in his path. Tough, single minded, ruthless.
Through deception he had stolen his elder brothers birthright for which Esau threatened to kill …